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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 23 International hockey gold may have eluded the Canadian junior team last week, but it didnt escape the grasp of Scott Laughton. The 16-year-old played a key role in Ontarios championship win at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg. Laughton, picked third overall by the Oshawa Generals in last years Ontario Hockey League draft, had an assist as Ontario avenged last years loss to the United States with a 5-3 victory in the gold- medal game, played in front of a tournament-record crowd of 12,060. It's crazy. We didnt know really what to expect and then we stepped onto the ice and it was pretty much a full house, Laughton said last Wednesday after flying home from Manitoba. You dream about putting that crest on and once you win a gold medal with all your friends and buddies, its just unbelievable. Laughton finished the tournament with two power play goals and three assists in six games. He was part of a well-balanced Ontario attack that saw five players earn six points and two, including Laughton, notching five. In the final, Laughton set up Brendan Gaunce for Ontario's third goal, which made the score 3-1 through a period. The Americans fought back to tie the game, but Ontario scored the winner 7:13 into the third period and Mathew Campagna added an insurance marker on a brilliant penalty shot with 4:02 remaining. Laughton's goals came in the opener, a 7-1 victo- ry over the Czech Republic, and the next game, a 5- 0 shutout against Slovakia. Ontario also won by scores of 4-3 over West and 4-2 over Pacific. Ontario has now won eight gold medals at the tournament in 18 years, including three of the past four. The World Jr. Hockey Challenge features five teams from Canada (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Pacific and West) as well as the United States, Germany, Finland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Laughton currently sits 17th in OHL rookie scor- ing with nine goals and seven assists in 34 games. He is also a plus-8 on the year for the Generals, who sit second in the East Division with a 22-10-3-4 record. With files from Brian McNair, Metroland staff Laughton golden at World U-17 Hockey Challenge She shoots, she scores BLAZING AWAY: Iroquois Ridge player Hannah Bale (in green) fires a shot at the White Oaks net during Halton girls hockey action Wednesday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Bale scored on the play, helping Ridge to a 5-3 win over the Wildcats. The high school sports sea- son now shuts down for a couple weeks because of exams, and will resume in early February. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Devante Smith-Pelley gave teammate Stuart Percy some advice about playing in Wednesdays CHL Prospects game in Toronto. He told me, Play your usual game, the 17-year-old defenceman said. Dont go out of your comfort zone. Dont try to do too much. That suits Percy fine. Not the type of blueliner to rush the puck from end to end, Percy is at his best when hes going unnoticed, teaming up with defensive partner Brett Flemming to shutdown opposing players. And hes done that very well Percy has been a minus player just five times in 34 games this season and is among the Ontario Hockey League lead- ers with a plus-26 mark. But in a game where the main purpose is for players to showcase their skills and leave a lasting impression on NHL scouts, Percys understated, yet effective, style doesnt seem to fit. The Oakville native isnt too concerned, though. Im an under-the-radar kind of play- er, he said. Maybe Ill throw a big hit to get their attention. NHL scouts are knowledgeable people, though, and Percys play with the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors has not gone unnoticed. Percy was ranked 51st among North American skaters in NHL Central Scoutings mid-season draft rank- ings released earlier this week. Besides, scouts should have plenty of opportunities to see Percy in action this season. Mississauga, with the leagues best record (30-7-1), is poised for a long play- off run. And even if the Majors are upset, theyll be in the Memorial Cup as the host. Not that Percy and his teammates want to rely on the free pass. Our goal from day one has been to win the OHL, even though we were hosts, he said. The Majors success has helped take Percys mind off the fact that it is his draft year. Instead of focusing on individual play, he has simply tried to do what he needs to do for the team to win. In the long run, that may do more to boost his draft stock rather than trying to boost his offensive numbers, which are solid, if not spectacular (two goals, 16 assists) for a second-year defenceman. If there are nerves associated with the game, they may have more to do with playing for a childhood hero. Doug Gilmour is one of my favourite players, said Percy of the Leafs great who will sub behind the bench for Bobby Orr. He did that milk commercial (with his legs painted like a cow) and I had pyjamas just like that. Im definitely really excited about playing for him. Even just being included in the CHL Prospects game is a meaningful accom- plishment for the 6-foot-1, 184-pound defender, who has watched the game since he was a kid and remembers seeing players from Oakville like Sam Gagner and John Tavares take part in the game. No matter what happens next week, Percy will milk the experience for all its worth. Percy not worried about getting noticed You dream about putting that crest on and once you win a gold medal with all your friends and buddies, its just unbelievable. Scott Laughton